Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu walks to address a Turkey-Africa Conference in Istanbul, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. Cavusoglu assailed the United States on Monday, claiming American forces in Syria are intentionally stalling the fight against Islamic State militants as an excuse not to cut ties with Syrian Kurdish fighters as Ankara has demanded.(Pool Photo via AP) less

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu walks to address a Turkey-Africa Conference in Istanbul, Monday, Feb. 12, 2018. Cavusoglu assailed the United States on Monday, claiming American forces in Syria are ... more

Photo: AP

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People shout slogans in support of Turkish soldiers during the funeral of Ali Akdogan in Izmir, Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. Akdogan was one of 12 Turkish soldiers killed Saturday during Turkey's Operation Olive Branch against the Syrian Kurdish militia that started on Jan. 20 with Ankara's cross-border incursion into the enclave of Afrin, Syria. less

People shout slogans in support of Turkish soldiers during the funeral of Ali Akdogan in Izmir, Turkey, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018. Akdogan was one of 12 Turkish soldiers killed Saturday during Turkey's Operation ... more

Photo: Emre Tazegul, AP

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In this Feb. 7, 2018, photo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. The U.S. wants to see foreign fighters being held by Syrian Democratic Forces turned over to their home countries. The United States is urging allied nations to help deal with the growing number of foreign fighters that are being held by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, saying the militants should be turned over to face justice in their home countries. Mattis is expected to raise the issue during a meeting in Rome this week with other members of the coalition that is fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. less

In this Feb. 7, 2018, photo, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington. The U.S. wants to see foreign fighters being held by Syrian Democratic Forces ... more

Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP

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Turkey's President and leader of ruling Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address the party members in Istanbul, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erdogan has announced that a Turkish military helicopter has been "downed" Saturday in northern Syria during Ankara's offensive on Syrian Kurdish militia there.( Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Pool Photo via AP ) less

Turkey's President and leader of ruling Justice and Development Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives to address the party members in Istanbul, Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018. Erdogan has announced that a Turkish ... more

Photo: Murat Cetinmuhurdar, AP

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Turkey to rename US Embassy street after Syria offensive

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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Ankara's mayor has announced plans to rename a street where the U.S. Embassy is located after the Turkish military offensive in Syria that is deepening tensions between the United States and Turkey.

Mayor Mustafa Tuna said in a tweet on Monday that Nevzat Tandogan Street (nev-ZOT tan-doh-AHN) will be called Olive Branch Street.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch last month to drive a Syrian Kurdish militia out of northwest Syria. The militia is a major U.S. ally in fighting the Islamic State group; Turkey has labeled the Syrian Kurds as "terrorists."

In November, Turkey renamed the street where the United Arab Emirates has its embassy after a long-dead Ottoman military commander. It was a reaction to an Emirati minister's retweet of a claim that the Turkish president's "forefathers" pillaged the holy city of Medina.